Alternator replacement 3.0
 

Hey there, is it necessary to remove the fan pulley(fan and clutch) to replace the alternator on a 3.0
thanks
rjm

I think so on the fan, but not the pulley. You can just leave the fan in the shroud, sitting on the core support, but it is in the way. A couple of the bolts you need to get to are right by the edge of the fan, IIRC. I also replaced my oil filter housing seal at the same time, so I don't remember exactly if I truly needed to take the clutch fan off for the alt or just the filter housing (which required taking the alt off).

It really is easy to get that off. You just need a big wrench that fits on that nut, and a screwdriver. It is reverse threaded, so you wedge your screwdriver between two of the bolts that hold the pulley on and pop the big fan clutch nut the other way. It spins right off. Make sure you put a little anti-seize on it when you reinstall so it will be easy to get off next time around also.

Yes, its necessary to remove the fan clutch and blade from the car to replace the alternator. Others have reported sneaky ways of avoiding the task, but for overall ease and space to work, it needs to be removed.

And to add onto lo_jack's response regarding the nut on the fan clutch, it is a reverse threading nut. So once you have the fan pulley held in place, you want to turn the wrench clockwise to loosen it.

Without buying a Repair Manual, is there a diagram on what bolt to loosen to remove the belt?

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i8...ionRelease.jpg

Pop off the dust cover on the tensioner pulley using a flat blade screwdriver or your hand. Take a breaker bar/ratchet and a Torx 50 bit, insert into the center of the pulley. Apply force CLOCKWISE to release tension from the belt, then slip the belt off the pulley. Slowly return pulley back to original position.

I am trying to turn the tensioner but it's not budging. I am using a normal ratchet wrench, do I need a breaker bar? It almost feels like the tensioner is stuck inside. Is there anything else I need to loosen? My X5 is a 2004 and the DIY posted with pics is a different year.

All good. Used a Breaker bar. Tensioner has some serious tension.

Are you referring to the diagram I posted? Because I too have a 2004 3.0i and thats exactly how I did it.....But you've gotten the belt on already so all I'm trying to do is clarify things.:thumbup:

My bad, there is a DIY Thread that posts a bunch of pics (not yours) and it's a little different. I just wanted to clarify that my pics and X5 are a 2004 3.0 X5. ;)